When the curtain rises on the 28th Ordinary Session of the Summit of the African Union on Jan. 22, the issue on many people’s minds will be the election of the new chairperson of the AU Commission. With the continent facing continued challenges of violent conflict and terrorism, persistent poverty and inequality, and the fallout from the decline in commodities prices, World Policy Journal spoke to the candidate from the Southern African Development Community: The Honorable Dr. Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, foreign minister of the Republic of Botswana, about the role she sees the African Union playing in addressing key challenges and realizing Africa’s potential. WORLD POLICY JOURNAL: What do you believe are the key issues at stake in the upcoming elections for the chairperson of the AU Commission? PELONOMI VENSON-MOITOI: The key issues? There are many, actually. It depends on whether we are looking at the continent, Africa, or the office of the chairperson. But I am going to look at the office because that is the position I've applied for. Being a foreign minister I have been going to the African Union for three and a half years. Having listened to member states talk at the various meetings, what I've…